Apparatus for constructing tunnels



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Filed May 20, 1957 M m mm@ N4 n M Ni 1W Rug y ,es 4@ *r Patented July 1s 1958 APPARATUS FOR CNSTRUCTING TUNNE Edward I. Washahaugh, Saginaw, Micln, assigner to American-Marietta Qompany, Chicago, lll., a corpo1 ration of Illinois Application May 20, 1957, Serial NoB 662,310

27 Claims. (Cl. 214652} installed sections, and rotating and positioning each succeeding section at the leading end of the tunnel to form a tubular continuation thereof.

This application is a consolidated continuation of my two prior filed applications, Serial No. 410,252, led February 15, 1954, and Serial No. 550,299, tiled December l, e

1955. Application Serial No. 410,252 is a continuation, in-part application of my application Serial No. 97,860, led .lune 8, 1949, and now abandoned, and also contains disclosure material from application Serial No. 121,467, led October 15, 1949, and now abandoned.

The tunnel sections intended to be handled by are herein described apparatus are preformed or pre-cast into elliptical ring form. They may be in complete ring -form as shown in Figs. 5-10, but may also be in incornplete ring form as shown in Figs. 34 and 35. The words tunnel ring section or tubular tunnel section er sirnply tunnel section1 are used herein to describe either the lcomplete or incomplete ring form.

An object of my invention is the provision of apparatus including a car adapted to support a succeeding tunnel .section `for movement through a completed portion of a tunnel into the heading forwardly thereof, whiie the car Vremains within the completed portion of the tunnel.

Another object is the provision of wheeled vehicle apparatus which will support a succeeding tunnel sec- .tion for movement through a completed portion of a :tunnel into the excavated heading and which so supports -or suspends the succeeding section within such heading Athat the succeeding tunnel section may be easily manipulated within the heading for accurate placement against 'the end of the completed portion of the tunnel to form a :tunnel continuation thereof.

A still further object is the provision of a wheeled vefhicle having tunnel section carrying boom means projecting beyond the vehicle and which boom means is provided at the outer end with tunnel ring section supporting mechanisms adapted to support a succeeding tunnel ring section for substantially universal movement for placement against the leading end of the completed portion of the tunnel. The tunnel section carrying and supporting vehicle is so counterweighted and balanced that .a ,tunnel section may be supported at the outer end of the .boom means beyond the vehicle.

In one form of the invention the apparatus comprises a vehicle having a single boom which projects beyond one end thereof with the apparatus particularly adapted to construct tunnels in only one direction. of the invention, a form particularly adapted to construct tunnels in two opposite directions, the apparatus comprises a vehicle having boom means projecting beyond opposite ends of the vehicle with the boom means adapted to support a tunnel section at either end of the vehicle.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a tunnel section engaging and manipulating head disposed at the outer end of a boom mounted on the wheeled vehicle with such head so constructed and mounted as to engage a tunnel ring section to support the same at its center of mass for rotation, revolution, tilting, and axial and radial displacement to move such ring section into alignment with already installed ring sections at the leading end of a tunnel under construction. Such displacement is accomplished While the section is supported by the boom and while the vehicle and the weight of the section being positioned are within the completed portion of the tunnel and is accomplished in part by movement of the boom, movement of the head, and manipulation of the ring section relative to the supporting boom assembly.

Another object of the invention is the provision in that form of the apparatus having a boom extending beyond opposite ends of the vehicle of a counterweight shiftably mounted on the vehicle and shiftaole toward and beyond that end thereof opposite the eno' at which a tunnel section is supported. Such shiftable counterweight is herein dis-closed as being disposed within the booms extending beyond opposite ends of the vehicle.

Other objects, advantages, and meritorious features of the invention will more fully appear from the following description, claims, and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a schematic elevation partly in section through a portion of a tunnel showing a complete tunnel ring section being moved by a tunnel section supporting car through the completed portion of the tunnel;

Eig. 2 is a schematic elevation partly in section through a portion of a tunnel showing how the tunnel section carried by a tunnel section supporting car may be rotated ahead of the lead section of the completed portion of the tunnel to the position it will assume in use when placed at an extension ahead of the completed portion of the tunnel;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. l, but showing the ring engaging pin in the outward position;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view `through one form of tunnel ring section suitable for use in this invention with the majo-r axis of the ring disposed vertically;

Fig. 6 shows the ring section illustrated in Fig. l with its major axis disposed horizontally;

7 is a sectional view through another form of suitable tunnel ring section;

Fig. 8 is a sectional View through a third form of tunnel ring section;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view through a further modied shape of ring section;

Fig. 1G is a schematic elevation of another shape of the ring section;

Fig. ll is a sectional View taken on the line 11-11 of Eig. l;

Fig. l2 is a schematic elevation partly in section through a portion of a tunnel showing tunnel ring sections disposed at an angle to the vertical;

Fig. 13 is an elevation partly in section through a portion of a tunnel showing a complete tunnel ring section being moved by a` preferred embodiment of the tunnel on supporting positioning apparatus through the In another form- 

